SEAMEO implemented the first phase of the Project from June 2007 to July 2009 which provided opportunity to explore the ways in which Southeast Asian countries, through appropriate language policies, can achieve Education for All (EFA) by widening access, reduce repetition and drop-out, and improve learning outcomes. Through regional discussions, outputs produced included a compendium of policies and case st udies, and 10 "good functioning" models of using the mother tongue or first language as br idge language of instruction.

Please click on the links to access relevant information and project outputs.

Building on the gains from the first phase of the Project, the second phase aimed at providing greater access and quality education to learners who are in difficult learning circumstances due to language barriers. This was done by equipping the SEAMEO Member Countries to provide opportunities to make full use of the learners' home language or mother tongue in teaching and learning. A SEAMEO Multilingual Education (MLE) Core Group composed of specialists and fellows from SEAMEO Member Countries, Regional Centres, and teacher training institutions was established to lead this process.

Equipping the SEAMEO MLE Fellows

One of the objectives of the Phase 2 was to train trainers on the principles and methods of developing and using curricula and teaching-learning materials for non-dominant languages. A "SEAMEO MLE Core Group" composed of MLE Fellows was instituted to serve as trainers, coordinators or focal persons of MLE-related initiatives of SEAMEO and/or specific Member Countries.

The SEAMEO MLE Core Group consists of representatives from three SEAMEO Regional Centres, namely, SEAMEO QITEP in Language, SEAMEO INNOTECH, and SEAMEO SPAFA. SEAMEO Member Countries have also nominated officials and representatives to take part in the Phase 2 of the Project and work with the SEAMEO Regional Centres as part of the SEAMEO MLE Core Group. Representatives from the Member Countries include directors or specialists in curriculum or training related to MLE from both formal and non-formal education systems; and lecturers from teacher education institutions who are specialists or have been involved in MLE initiatives. Please click to see List of SEAMEO MLE Fellows.

SIL International, UNESCO and Asia-South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE) provided technical assistance in the implementation of the Phase 2 of the Project.

Activities Conducted

The following activities were conducted to help build the capacity and further enhance awareness of the SEAMEO MLE Core Group in establishing mother tongue-based MLE programmes and projects.

Activity

Date and Venue

Coordinator

Regional Training Workshop on How to Plan, Set up, Advocate, Implement and Evaluate a Mother Tongue-based MLE Program

Experiences and lessons learned from the implementation of the Phase 2 of the Project were compiled in a special publication called "What, Why and How of MTB-MLE: Materials Development for Non-Dominant Languages in Southeast Asia". Please click to access the publication.

A REGIONAL MEETING ON THE DISSEMINATION OF PROJECT RESULTS AND IDENTIFICATION OF GOOD FUNCTIONING MODELS

24-26 February 2009 I Arnoma Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

BACKGROUND

The SEAMEO Secretariat implements the Project, "Mother Tongue as Bridge Language of Instruction in Southeast Asian Countries: Policy, Strategies and Advocacy" with support from the World Bank. The Project aims at providing opportunity to explore how Southeast Asian countries, through appropriate language policies, can achieve Education for All (EFA) by widening access, reduce repetitions and drop-outs and improve learning outcomes.

The implementation of the Project started in June 2007. Advocacy of project results and related follow-up activities are set until June 2009.

The major accomplishment of the project is the collection of country policies and practices in the use of the mother tongues as bridge language of instruction in Southeast Asia. This significant collection was made possible through a consultative workshop that was attended by representatives from the SEAMEO Member Countries, SEAMEO Centres, international non-governmental organizations and donor communities such as the World Bank, SIL International, UNESCO, UNICEF, CARE Cambodia, CARE International, Save the Children and others in February 2008 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Significantly, awareness of the mother tongue issue was raised to a high level among the SEAMEO Member Country participants and other organizations who attended the workshop.

Resolution from the 43rd SEAMEO Council Conference

The result of the Consultative Workshop was reported to the Education Ministers at the 43rd Conference of the SEAMEO Council in March 2008. The Education Ministers approved and took note of the progress of the Project with two recommendations:

that the Project must go beyond policy discussions and recommendations, but should also focus on the process, strategies adopted and methodologies; and

that through the Project, good functioning models in the use of the mother tongue as a bridge language of instruction be presented with the help of some national experts who may be invited to work on the various case studies and policy reviews.

In response to the directive of the education Ministers, the SEAMEO Secretariat convenes a regional meeting of representatives from SEAMEO Member Countries, SEAMEO Centres, development partners in multi-lingual education and other related organizations to discuss issues and identify good functioning models in the use of mother tongue as bridge language of instruction which is an important step in identifying practical ways to maximize language use for optimum teaching and learning experiences.

OBJECTIVES

The Regional Meeting has three objectives:

Disseminate the results and gains from the First Phase of the Project which include collection of language policies and case studies in the use of mother tongue as bridge language of instruction in Southeast Asia

Identify good functioning models and theoretical models in the use of Mother Tongue as Bridge Language of Instruction

Assess viability of models for possible application in other sites within the country or to other countries

EXPECTED OUTPUTS/ OUTCOMES

The following outputs/outcomes are expected by the end of the meeting:

Increased awareness of the issues and strategies to address the educational needs of the disadvantaged and excluded learners due to language difficulties

Collection of good functioning models for dissemination to the SEAMEO Member Countries, network and other development partners as reference for possible application in other contexts

Report containing the proceedings of the three-day meeting

Greater appreciation of the need for regional cooperation to attain the Education for All Goals

The regional meeting will benefit all 11 SEAMEO Member Countries and development partners in multi-lingual education. It is envisioned as the beginning of a collaborative effort of the Southeast Asian countries to make the best use of language to provide greater access to education for learners who are disadvantaged and excluded due to linguistic issues.

DATES AND VENUE

24-26 February 2009 Arnoma Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

PARTICIPANTS

Three (3) participants from each 11 SEAMEO Member Countries will be invited. The team will be composed of:

a high-level education official from the Ministry/Department of Education

a director or specialist in curriculum or training related to multi-lingual education from the Ministry/Department of Education

an expert in multi-lingual education from a higher education institution/international non-governmental organization/multilateral agency

Representatives from the SEAMEO Centres, development partners in multi-lingual education and other related organizations will also be invited.

The SEAMEO Secretariat organizes the regional meeting with support from the World Bank. Project Consultants from SIL International will serve as resource persons and facilitate the group work.

MEETING MECHANICS

The three-day meeting will include the following activities:

The SEAMEO Secretariat will present the results and gains from the First Phase of the Project which includes collection of language policies and case studies in the use of mother tongue as bridge language of instruction in Southeast Asia.

Country teams will present papers on good functioning models in the use of mother tongues as bridge language of instruction.

Two resource persons will present a theoretical or ideal model in the use of mother tongues as bridge language of instruction.

All models will be deliberated upon by the participants to decide which may be applied in other contexts in consideration of existing language policies in the countries, functionality of the model and other factors.

COUNTRY PAPER

The main purpose of the regional meeting is the identification of good functioning models in the use of mother tongue as bridge language of instruction. Therefore, each country team is requested to prepare a paper and a presentation (using PowerPoint) on a good functioning model.

The country papers will give the other participants opportunity to gain insights on possible application to other contexts of effective basic principles, thus, promoting greater collaboration among SEAMEO countries.

Registration. Please complete the Participant's Form and return it not later than 2 February 2009 to the SEAMEO Secretariat secretariat@seameo.org with copy to abigail@seameo.org. The information in the Participant's Form will enable the Secretariat to make all the necessary logistical arrangements.

Hotel Information. The meeting will take place at the Arnoma Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. A block reservation has been made for all the participants on single-room occupancy. Please indicate in the registration form if you would like to share a room with another participant, so that we may inform the hotel accordingly. The hotel contact details are as follows:

The simplest way to get to the hotel venue from the Suvarnabhumi Airport is to get a taxi. The hotel location is opposite to the Central World and 5 minutes walking distance to Chidlom Skytrain Station (BTS).

DSA, Accommodation and Ticket Reimbursement

For Country Participants (3 for each country)

The SEAMEO Secretariat will reimburse cost of airfare tickets at the meeting venue. Please note the request for the most economical and direct round trip airfare ticket to Bangkok. As we are working on a tight budget, we would request that you inform us of the cost of the tickets before booking. Receipt of airfare ticket purchase will be required upon reimbursement.

The SEAMEO Secretariat will pay for a single room accommodation for each participant.

For All Participants including Non-Country Participants

The SEAMEO Secretariat will arrange and provide lunches and snacks during the meeting, from 24 to 26 February 2009 at the meeting venue. A welcome dinner is set on the 24 February 2009.

SEAMEO WORLD Bank Project: Using the Mother Tongue as Bridge Language of Instruction in Southeast Asian Countries: Policy, Strategies and Advocacy

The 41st and 42nd SEAMEO Council Conferences took up the issue of mother tongue. To put this agenda into action, the SEAMEO Secretariat has sought partnership or collaboration with various organizations to organize a number of activities related to the use of mother tongue as bridge language of instruction. One of these is "Using the Mother Tongue as Bridge Language of Instruction in Southeast Asian Countries: Policy, Strategies and Advocacy" with sponsorship from the World Bank.

The main idea is to enhance minority children's capabilities to learn through the use their mother tongue as language of instruction in early education. The children will revert to the main stream language for instruction at a later time.

Aim

This projects aims to keep alive discussion on the complicated language of instruction issue in the SEAMEO member countries. The core participants will be the Ministry of Education officials of SEAMEO member countries who are well versed in language policies and implementation. Their participation will provide the most up-to-date information on language issues in Southeast Asia, and hopefully, this will also preempt other activities such as, replicating some of the good practices presented, encouraging detailed documentation of the experiences and the processes involved in using the mother tongue as MOI, or scaling up some of the projects in their respective countries. The Secretariat will present the outcomes of this project to High Officials in the 30th SEAMEO High Officials Meeting and the Ministers of Education in the 43rd SEAMEO Council Conference for advocacy.

Objective

The project will review and assess the use of mother tongue as language of instruction and assist countries to devise strategies for improving their language policies. The project is intended to add value by sharing international and regional good practices in terms of strategies, policy measures and know how. There are three main tasks in the project:

Development of a compendium of language policies, legislation and selected programmes of the different Ministries of Education (MOE) and key education players in the region;

Organization of a workshop for experts and representatives of the MOE to take stock of language practices and policies, directions and exemplary programs relating to language on instruction for ethnic and linguistic minorities; and

Formulation of policy recommendations and region-wide action plans for advocacy in dissemination of information on mother tongue in the SEAMEO Member Countries

MOE officers will be invited to write on their countries' language policies and either MOE officers or other nominated persons to write on cases of good practices.

A consultative workshop to be attended by MOE officers, SEAMEO officers, international experts and NGOS will be organized. The writers of language policies and mother tongue implementation will present their papers for information and discussion in this meeting. The meeting will also draw ideas from these presentations to develop policy recommendations and region-wide action plan.

There are two expected outputs:

Compendium of language policies and case studies in Southeast Asia on the use of mother tongue as bridge language of instruction; and